Xiaolan Zhao
Born in Kunming in southwest China, Xiaolan completed a degree in Western medicine and in 1977 began her career as an abdominal surgeon. After witnessing firsthand the efficacy of herbal remedies on the chronically ill, she went back to earn a second degree in traditional Chinese medicine, then began combining Western and Eastern approaches to deliver more effective care. In 1988 Xiaolan came to Canada to do research at Queen’s University. Inspired by Canadians’ growing interest in complementary therapies, she established a Chinese medicine clinic in a modest Toronto house and from there pursued her vision of a holistic balance between East and West that led ultimately to Xiaolan Health Centre. Xiaolan is a Director of Canadian Association of Nutri-Health Education and Canadian Association for Cancer Support. Her first book “Reflections of the Moon on Water” was translated into over 15 languages.